Collapsible flowerpot



March 20, 1934. UG A 1,951,642

COLLAPS I BLE FLOWERPOT Filed Aug. 8, 1932 Patented Mar. 20, 1934COLLAPSIBLE FLOWERPOT Charles Augustin and Thomas P. Carroll, St. Louis,Mo.

Application August 8, 1932, Serial No. 627,896

3 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible flowerpots and flower baskets.

The objects of the invention are to provide a flowerpot which is formedof a suitable blank or 5 blanks of cardboard or fiber and can be foldedflat when not in use and which is water-proof and of suii'icientstrength to provide the necessary rugged construction when in assembledcondition.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible flowerpotand hanging basket consisting of two sections of cardboard or fiber, oneof which is formed tubular and open at both ends and taperingdownwardly, and the other forms the lining or inner member and comprisesa hottom having formed integral therewith and extending radiallytherefrom a plurality of inner walls or panels, the side edges of whichare formed obliquely to conform to the tapering side walls of the outersection.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide a collapsibleflowerpot comprising an outer section and a lining or inner section,both of which are made of water-proof cardboard or fiber, the outersection being open at top and bottom and having a plurality of side wallmembers or panels tapering downwardly, inner member being formed of acentral member which is polygonal in shape, the sides of which haveformed integral therewith a plurality of radially and outwardlyextending flaps which are of similar contour as the side walls or panelsof the outer member and are adapted to be bent upwardly and lie againstthe inner sides thereof when said inner member is inserted within saidouter member.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevational view of our improvedcollapsible flowerpot.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section thereof.

Figure i is a reduced top plan view of the inner or lining section.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the outer section showing it in collapsedcondition.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of our collapsible flowerpotutilized as a hanging flower basket.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail cross section showing means forreinforcing the apertures in the wall panels.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates aflowerpot of our improved construction which consists of an outersection 11 and an inner or lining section 12.

shown in the drawing, the flowerpot is of hexagonal shape and the outersection thereof 00 consists of six side walls or panels 14 which taperdownwardly so that the flowerpot is wider at the top than at the bottom.

This outer section 11 is preferably formed of a single piece blank ofappropriate shape and scored transversely along equidistant spaced linesradiating from a common center, as indicated at 15. The strip or blankis bent along the scored lines to provide the six panels. One end of theblank has formed integral therewith a flap 16 which is secured either bygluing or staples to the other end of the strip, thereby imparting tothe section 3.1 hexagonal shape in cross section with the side walls orpanels 14 extending upwardly and outwardly. The upper edge of each panel14 is preferably finished or shaped in any suitable manner, as indicatedat 17 in order to enhance the appearance of the flowerpot. If desired,an aperture 18 can be formed in the upper end of each alternate panel bymeans of which the flowerpot can be suspended.

The lower edge of each panel 14: is cut out or notched, as indicated at19. This improves the looks of the flowerpot and also permits air toenter the lower end of the outer section 11.

The inner or lining section 12 consists of a central member 20 which ispolygonal in shape, the number of sides thereof corresponding to thenumber of panels 14 of the outer section 11. In the present case, theouter section 11, as well as the member 20, are formed hexagonal.

This central member, when the lining section 12 is placed in position,forms the bottom of the pot (see Figure 3). It is slightly larger thanthe cross sectional area of the lower end of the outer section 11 sothat when said lining section 12 is inserted in the outer section 11,said bottom or central member 20 occupies position spaced a suitabledistance from the lower end of the outer section as shown in Figure 3,thereby providing in the lower end of the not an air chamber whichcommunicates with the atmosphere through notches 19.

Formed integral with each side of the bottom or central member 20 is aninner panel 21, as in- 195 dicated at 22. These panels are ofsubstantially the same shape as the panels i i of outer section 11, butthey are considerably shorter so that when the lining section 12 isplaced in position, the upper ends of panels 21 terminate suitabledistances below the upper ends of panels 14 and where apertures 18 areused below the latter. When the inner section 12 is inserted into theouter section 11, the oblique edges of panels 21 form a close contactwith each other and with the corners formed by panels 14 and usuallyform a Water-tight joint. The cardboard or fiber from which the sections1.1 and 12 are made is water proof so that it is not aiiected bymoisture.-

Preferably the bottom or central member 20 of the inner or liningsection 12 is formed with an aperture 23 which provides drainage for theflowerpot. However, if so desired, this aperture can be dispensed with,in which case the flower-' pot is water-tight and will prevent waterfrom dripping therefrom.

When the flowerpot is filled, the soil holds the inner section 12securely in position within the outer section. Preferably the top of thesoil is arranged on a level with the upper end of the inner section soas to be disposed below the apertures:.18. The flower and the soil canbe readily removed by pressingthe inner section 12 upwardly. The outerfaces of panels 1% can be finished in any suitable manner so as toprovide. a neat and ornamental appearance.

Where the flowerpot is to be used as a hanging basket (see Fig. 5),aperture 18 may be reinforced by means of tubular rivets 2 as shown inFig ure-"I.

With the drain aperture 23 omitted, our flowerpotcanbe'used as anornamental receptacle for pottedplants or for artificial flowers.

The exterior of panels 1 1 can be ornamental and finished in any desiredmanner. Stone eifect can beproduced or the panels may be finished toimitate. wood slabs. As the cardboard or fiber is watersproof, ourflowerpot can be left outside at all times without danger of injuringit.

Thepanels 14, as well as member 21, are in the form of trapezoids, thesides of which are disposedat substantially the same angles so thatwhenthe inner member 12 is inserted within the outer member 11 it issupported therein by the engagement of the oblique sides of the section21 with the obliquely and similarly inclined panels 14. Furthermore, theedges of the adjoining sections 21- are brought into intimate contactwith eachiother'and with the corner formed by the corresponding panels14 thereby forming a substantially water-tight joint.

Preferably the length of member 21 is less than the'length-of panels 14and the dimension of said member 21 and member 20 is such that saidinner member 12 is supported in the outer member 11 with the member 20(formingthe bottom of the pot) spaced from the bottom edges of'thepanels 14; Thus a chamber is provided below bottom member. 20 and air isadmitted into said chain 1 zoidal'panels, the ends of said strip beingsecured together and forming an outer member, and an innermember oiwater-proof cardboard comprising a central polygonal section and aplurality of trapezoidal imperforate sections formed integral therewithand extending radially outwardly, each of said radial sections being ofthe same angular dimensions as the corresponding panel, whereby whensaid inner member is inserted within said outer member the former issupported in position in the latter by the interengagement ofsaidtrapezcidalsections with said panels, said trapezoidal sections beingsubstantially shorter than said panels and of such dimensions that saidpolygonal member which forms the bottom of the pot is supported inposition spaced from the bot tom edges of said outer member, the upperend of said inner member terminating a considerable distance belowv theupper end of said outer member whereby said flowerpot can be carried bygrasping the upper end of said outer member.

2. A collapsible flowerpot comprising in combi nation a strip ofwater-proof cardboard scored obliquely to form a plurality of downwardlytapering trapezoidal panels, the outer. surface of said strip havingornamental finish and the ends 0i;-

said strip being secured together to form an open-ended outer ber ofwater iroof cardboard having a central polygonal section and a pluralityof trapezoidal imperforate sections formed integral therewith andextending radially outwardly, each of said.

radial sections being of the same angular dimensions as thecorresponding panel whereby when said inner member is inserted withinsaid outer member the former is supported in position in the latter bythe interengagement of said radial sections with said panels and withsaid central nation astrip of water-proof cardboard scored. obliquely toform a plurality of downwardly tapering trapezoidal panels, the outersurface of said strip having ornamental finish and-the ends of saidstrip being secured together toiorman open-ended outer member, and aninner member member, and an inner mem-- of water-proof cardboard havinga central 1;.5

polygonal section and a plurality of trapezoidal ital-perforate sectionsformed integral therewith and extending radially outwardly, each of saidradial sections being of the same angular dimensions as thecorresponding panel whereby when 1.,

said inner member is inserted within said outer member the former issupported in position in the latter by the interengagement of saidradial sections with said panels and with said polygonal member spacedfrom the lower end of said outer member and with the upper end ofsaidinner member disposed a suitable distance below the upper end ofsaid outer member, the. upperends of said panels being provided withapertures by means of which said pot can be suspended in position.

CHARLES AUGUSTIN. THOMAS P. CARROLL.

